Multi-Media Imagery Program for Breast Cancer Patients (Phase II)
Breast Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Breast Cancer focused on measuring Behavioral, Quality of Life, Breast Cancer
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants must be a community-dwelling member 18 years of age or older. - The participant must be at least 18 because the assessment tools are not validated for use in minors.
- Participants should be able to read, write, and speak English.
- Participants must have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have completed surgery, which did not include Level III dissection of the axilla.
- Participants must obtain verification of diagnosis and treatment from their physician.
- Participants must agree to complete assessment instruments and take part in psychophysiological data gathering at baseline, 8 and 17 weeks and to provide required demographic information.
- Participants must sign informed consent, stating he/she understands the nature of the research and that he/she wishes to participate in the study. -
- Participants must agree to complete the required diaries, graphs and notebooks related to behavior assessment.
- Participants must display the ability to understand and respond to the assessment process and must demonstrate they are oriented to person, place, and time.
- Participants must agree to fully participate in all five imagery classes and to practice imagery skills for 20 minutes a day for 17 weeks.
- Participants must have completed major cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, and/or radiation and/or IV chemotherapy) for six weeks; participant must be visual and hearing capable.
- Oral chemotherapy does not preclude participation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participant will be excluded if he/she has a history of uncontrolled epileptic seizures.
- The investigators will exclude patients who cannot speak, read and write English.
- Patients will be excluded if they are not oriented to place, person, and time.
- Participants will be excluded if they have a major psychiatric diagnosis (schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder).
- The investigators will exclude patients who received a Level III dissection of the axilla.
- Participants will be excluded if they are visually or hearing impaired.
- Although imagery can be modified for the visually or hearing impaired, that model is significantly different from an imagery program for the visual and hearing capable.
Sites / Locations
- Gilda's Club Seattle
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
No Intervention
Imagery Practice, live trainer
"Envision the Rhythms of Life" /video
Waitlist Control Group
Patients attend a five week training program, with the instructor in the room with them, and actively practice imagery techniques, both in the classroom, and daily, outside of the classroom. Classes are four hours a week for five weeks. Patients practice what they learn for a full 17 weeks, beginning with the first week of class.
Patients learn to practice passive, active and targeted imagery for the purpose of improving mood state, modifying physiology (HRV, Body temperature, pain reduction) and also to mitigate the effects of their treatments, as defined by the IOM: chemo brain, fatigue, sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD.
No treatment delivery during the 17 weeks of testing live delivery (trainer in the room with patients) vs. distance delivery (trainer delivers program via telemedicine/videoconferencing equipment)